1, 2. Ngumuphi umsebenti longajabulisi Elija labebhekene nawo, futsi yena abehluke njani ku-Ahabi?

ELIJA abelangatelela kuthantaza kuBabe wakhe wasezulwini ayedvwa. Kodvwa sicumbi sebantfu lebesimtungeletile besisandza kubona lomphrofethi weliciniso abita umlilo kutsi wehle uvela ezulwini, futsi akungabateki kutsi labanyenti bebalangatelela kuya kuye bayewumbonga kute atewubabusisa. Ngaphambi kwekutsi akhone kukhuphukela eNtsabeni iKhameli, futsi athantaze ngasese kuJehova Nkulunkulu, Elija kwadzingeka ente umsebenti longajabulisi. Bekufanele akhulume neNkhosi Ahabi.

² Lamadvodza lamabili abeyimphumalanga nenshonalanga. Ahabi labegcoke tembatfo letikhatitelako tasebukhosini, abenemona futsi angumtentisi lohungeka melula. Elija abegcoke tembatfo tebaphrofethi​—lobekutembatfo letivamile lokungenteka kutsi betentiwe ngesikhumba sesilwane nome boya lobelukiwe belikamela nome bembuti. Abeyindvodza lenesibindzi lesikhulu, acotfo futsi akholwa. Loko lebekutawukwenteka ngalelo langa kwawubeka ebaleni umehluko lowawukhona emkhatsini walamadvodza lamabili.

3, 4. (a) Kungani leli kwaba lilanga lelibi ku-Ahabi nakulabanye bantfu lebebakhonta Bhali? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ Bekube lilanga lelibi ku-Ahabi nakulabo labakhonta Bhali. Lenkholo yemacaba yabo-Ahabi kanye nemkakhe, iNdlovukazi Jezebeli, lokuyinkholo leyayihamba phambili kulemibuso yaka-Israyeli yetive letilishumi, beyingene ehlazweni lolukhulu. Kwakuphumele ebaleni kutsi inkholo yaBhali yemanga. Lonkulunkulu wabo longaphili abehlulekile kokhela umlilo ngemuva kwekuncenga kwebaphrofethi bakhe, kudansa kwabo, kanye nekutigwaza kwabo. Bhali wehluleka kuvikela lamadvodza langu-450 esehlulelweni sekufa labebhekene naso. Kodvwa lonkulunkulu wemanga abehluleka nakulokunye, futsi lokwehluleka kwakhe besekutawubonakala kahle. Besekuphele iminyaka lemitsatfu baphrofethi baBhali bacela nkulunkulu wabo kutsi acedze somiso lebesihlasele live labo, kodvwa Bhali wehluleka kwenta njalo. Masinyane, Jehova abetawukhombisa kutsi unguNkulunkulu weliciniso, ngekutsi acedze lesomiso.​—1 Khos. 16:30–17:1; 18:1-40.

 ⁴ Kodvwa Jehova abetasitsatsa nini-ke leso sinyatselo? Abetatiphatsa njani Elija kute kufike leso sikhatsi? Futsi yini lesingayifundza kulendvodza lebeyikholwa kangaka? Asesibone kutsi sitfolani njengobe sihlolisisa lendzaba.​—Fundza 1 Emakhosi 18:41-46.

5. Elija watjela Ahabi kutsi ahambe ayewukwentani, futsi kukhona yini Ahabi lakufundza kuletintfo letenteka ngalelo langa?

⁵ Elija waya ku-Ahabi wafike watsi: “Hamba, uyekudla unatse, ngobe kukhona umsindvo wemvula lenkhulu.” Kukhona yini lenkhosi lembi lebeyikufundzile kuletintfo letenteka ngalelo langa? Lendzaba ayisitjeli ngalokucondzile, kodvwa akukho lasitfola khona emavi ekuphendvuka, nome simuve acela lomphrofethi kutsi amsite kutsi aye kuJehova kute atfole intsetselelo. Ahabi akazange asatihluphe, kunaloko wavele “wayakudla wanatsa.” (1 Khos. 18:41, 42) Elija yena wenta njani?

6, 7. Yini Elija layithantazela, futsi kungani?

⁶ “Kodvwa Elija wekhwela etulu esicongweni seNtsaba iKhameli, wagobondzela, wafaka buso bakhe emkhatsini wemadvolo akhe.” Ngalesikhatsi Ahabi ahambile ayewukudla, Elija watfola litfuba lekuthantaza kuBabe wakhe wasezulwini. Naka lendlela yekuma kwemtimba lenenhlonipho lechazwe lana​—Elija abehleti phansi,  agobondzelise inhloko yakhe kangangekutsi buso bakhe bebuphose butsintse emadvolo. Bekentani? Akudzingeki sicombele. EmBhalweni waJakobe 5:18, liBhayibheli lisitjela kutsi Elija wathantazela kutsi kuphele lesomiso. Kungenteka kutsi lomthantazo wawenta asesicongweni seNtsaba iKhameli.

⁷ Jehova abeke watsi: “Ngitawutfumela imvula eveni.” (1 Khos. 18:1) Ngako Elija wathantazela kugcwaliseka kwentsandvo yaJehova, njengobe Jesu afundzisa balandzeli bakhe kutsi bathantaze kanjalo, cishe ngemuva kweminyaka leyinkhulungwane kwentekile loku.​—Mat. 6:9, 10.

8. Sibonelo sa-Elija sisifundzisani mayelana nemthantazo?

⁸ Sibonelo sa-Elija sisifundzisa lokunyenti ngemthantazo. Lokwakuhamba phambili engcondvweni ya-Elija kwakukufezeka kwentsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Nasithantaza, kubalulekile kutsi sikhumbule kutsi “kunobe yini lesiyicela ngekwentsandvo [yaNkulunkulu], uyasiva.” (1 Joh. 5:14) Kuyacaca-ke kutsi kufanele siyati intsandvo yaNkulunkulu kute sithantaze ngendlela leyemukelekako, futsi lesi sizatfu lesihle sekutsi sifundze liBhayibheli malanga onkhe. Kusebaleni kutsi na-Elija abefuna kusibona siphela lesomiso ngenca yekutsi besiletsela bantfu baseveni lakubo kuhlupheka. Kufanele nekutsi abembonga kakhulu Jehova ngalesimangaliso labembone asenta ngalelo langa. Natsi sifuna imithantazo yetfu ibonise kutsi simbonga ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni Jehova futsi siyakhatsateka ngekuphila kwalabanye.​—Fundza 2 Khorinte 1:11; Filiphi 4:6.

9. Elija watsi ayenteni inceku yakhe, futsi ngutiphi tintfo letimbili letimayelana naye lesitawucoca ngato?

⁹ Elija abeciniseka kutsi Jehova utakwenta lokutsite kute acedze lesomiso, kodvwa abengaciniseki kutsi utakwenta nini loko. Ngako, bekentani ngesikhatsi asalindzile? Naka loko lokushiwo ngulendzaba, itsi: “Wakhuluma encekwini yakhe, watsi: ‘Hamba uyewubuka ngaselwandle.’ Lenceku yahamba yayawubuka, yabuya yatsi: ‘Akunalutfo lapho.’ Elija wakhuluma kulenceku emahlandla lasikhombisa solomane atsi: ‘Ncandzeka.’” (1 Khos. 18:43) Sibonelo sa-Elija sisifundzisa lokungenani tifundvo letimbili. Kwekucala, nakisisa kuciniseka kwalomphrofethi. Ngemuva kwaloko, naka indlela lakhombisa ngayo kulindzela Jehova.

10, 11. (a) Elija wakhombisa njani kutsi uyaciniseka ngetetsembiso taJehova? (b) Kungani singaciniseka ngendlela lefanako?

¹⁰ Ngesizatfu sekutsi Elija abeciniseka ngetetsembiso taJehova, wachubeka atibuke ngalabovu timphawu tekutsi Jehova utawutsatsa  sinyatselo masinyane. Watfumela inceku yakhe kutsi ikhuphukele endzaweni lephakeme iyobuka kutsi kute yini timphawu temvula letako. Lenceku yabuya nembiko lodvumatako lotsi: “Akunalutfo lapha.” Sibhakabhaka besite ngisho linye lifu, nangaselwandle kwakungenalutfo. Kukhona yini lokungakavami lokucaphelako manje kulendzaba? Khumbula phela kutsi Elija abesandza kutjela iNkhosi Ahabi kutsi: “Kukhona umsindvo wemvula lenkhulu.” Lomphrofethi abengayisho njani intfo lenjalo kube kute emafu emvula labonakalako?

¹¹ Elija abesati setsembiso saJehova. Njengemphrofethi waJehova nemmeleli wakhe, abeciniseka kutsi Nkulunkulu utakufeza loko lakushito. Elija abeciniseka kakhulu kangangekutsi kuye kwakufana nekutsi abesawuva umsindvo wemvula. Loku kungasikhumbuta loko lokuchazwa liBhayibheli ngaMosi nalitsi: “Wachubeka acinile shengatsi uyambona Loyo longabonakali.” Nawe uciniseka ngaleyo ndlela yini kutsi Nkulunkulu ukhona? Usiniketa tizatfu letenele tekutsi sibe nekukholwa kuye nasetetsembisweni takhe.​—Heb. 11:1, 27.

12. Elija wakhombisa njani kutsi abemlindza Jehova, futsi yini layenta nakabikelwa kutsi kunelifu lelincane lelivelile?

¹² Kwesibili, naka kutsi Elija abephapheme ngelizinga lelingakanani. Watfumela inceku yakhe kutsi iyohlola, hhayi kanye nome kabili, kodvwa emahlandla lasikhombisa! Ungacabanga nje kutsi lenceku beseyidzinwe kanjani solo yehla yenyuka, kodvwa Elija wachubeka alangatelela kubona luphawu futsi akaphelelwanga ngemandla. Ekugcineni, ngemuva kwesikhatsi sesikhombisa, lenceku yabika yatsi: “Ngibone lifu lelincane lelingangesandla semuntfu bukhulu balo, liphuma elwandle.” Asewuyibone ngeliso lengcondvo lenceku ivule sandla sayo, ilinganisa bukhulu belifu lebelichamuka ngaseLwandle Lolukhulu. Kungenteka kutsi lenceku beyibona lelifu njengentfo lengasho lutfo. Kodvwa ku-Elija, lelo lifu belisho lokukhulu. Waniketa lenceku yakhe ticondziso letiphutfumako watsi: “Hamba uyewutjela Ahabi kutsi akaphutfume agibele ahambe imvula isengakamvimbeteli.”​—1 Khos. 18:44.

13, 14. (a) Singakulingisa njani kulindza kwa-Elija? (b) Sinatiphi tizatfu tekwenta tintfo ngekuphutfuma?

¹³ Elija uphindze asibekele sibonelo lesihle. Natsi siphila esikhatsini lapho Nkulunkulu atewusigcwalisa masinyane setsembiso sakhe lasibiketele. Elija walindzela kuphela kwesomiso; tinceku taNkulunkulu lamuhla tilindzele kuphela kwalelive lelonakele. (1 Joh. 2:17) Njenga-Elija, kufanele sihlale silindzile kudzimate kube ngulapho Jehova Nkulunkulu atsatsa sinyatselo. Jesu, iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu, weluleka balandzeli bakhe watsi: “Ngako-ke hlalani nilindzile ngobe anilati lilanga iNkhosi yenu letawufika ngalo.” (Mat. 24:42) Jesu bekasho kutsi balandzeli bakhe bebayohlala basenkhungwini yini mayelana nekutsi kuphela kutawufika nini?  Cha, ngobe wabanika imininingwane leminyenti lemayelana netintfo lebetitawukwenteka nasekusondzele kuphela. Sonkhe singatibonela kugcwaliseka kwaletibonakaliso ‘tekuphela kwalelive.’​—Fundza Matewu 24:3-7.

¹⁴ Nguleyo naleyo ncenye yalesibonakaliso isiniketa bufakazi lobucinile nalobenetisako. Lobufakazi benele yini kutsi bukubangele uwente ngekuphutfuma umsebenti wakho lowentela Jehova? Lifu linye lelincane lelakhuphuka ngaselwandle lamenetisa Elija kutsi besekusedvute Jehova atsatse sinyatselo. Wadvumateka yini lomphrofethi lowetsembekile?

15, 16. Ngutiphi tintfo letenteka ngekushesha, futsi kungenteka kutsi Elija abetibuta ini nga-Ahabi?

¹⁵ Lendzaba itsi: “Ngasona leso sikhatsi litulu lacungutela letfwala laba nemafu lamnyama, kwahhusha umoya, latsela lenkhulu imvula, Ahabi wakhwela incola yakhe, wahamba waya eJezreyeli.” (1 Khos. 18:45) Tintfo tacala kwenteka ngekushesha. Ngalesikhatsi inceku ya-Elija yetfula umlayeto walomphrofethi ku-Ahabi, lelifu lelincane lagucuka laba ngemafu lamanyenti, agcwala sibhakabhaka futsi asenta sagucuka saba mnyama. Kwahhusha umoya lomkhulu. Ekugcineni, ngemuva kweminyaka lemitsatfu nencenye, litulu layitsela kulelive laka-Israyeli. Umhlabatsi lowomile wavele wawamunya ngekushesha lamanti. Njengobe litulu licala kuyidliva, umfula iKishoni wagcwala wagola tintsetse, futsi akungabateki kutsi wageleta wasusa yonkhe ingati yebaphrofethi baBhali lebebabulewe. Nema-Israyeli labevukela anikwa litfuba lekucedza kukhontwa kwaBhali lokwenyanyekako kulelive.

¹⁶ Akungabateki kutsi Elija abenelitsemba lekutsi bebatawukwenta loko. Kungenteka abetibuta kutsi Ahabi utawutsini ngaletintfo lebetenteka. Abetawuphendvuka yini akulahle kungcola lokubangelwa kukhontwa kwaBhali? Loko lebekwenteke ngalelo langa kwashiya Ahabi anetizatfu letiphatsekako tekwenta leto tingucuko. Kuliciniso kutsi asikwati loko Ahabi labekucabanga ngaleso sikhatsi. Lendzaba imane itsi inkhosi ‘yakhwela incola yayo, yahamba yaya eJezreyeli.’ Kukhona yini Ahabi lakufundza kuloku? Abetimisele yini kushintja tindlela takhe? Lokwenteka kamuva kukhombisa kutsi imphendvulo yalemibuto ingucha. Nome kunjalo, tintfo betisengakefiki ekugcineni ku-Ahabi naku-Elija.

17, 18. (a) Yini leyenteka ku-Elija ngalesikhatsi asendleleni leya eJezreyeli? (b) Yini leyayimangalisa kakhulu endleleni Elija lagijima ngayo nakesuka eKhameli aya eJezreyeli? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

 ¹⁷ Umphrofethi waJehova wabese uhamba ngayo lendlela Ahabi labehambe ngayo. Abesamelwe luhambo loludze, futsi beliyidliva kuphindze kumnyama. Kepha kukhona lokungakavami lokwabese kuyenteka.

¹⁸ “Emandla aSimakadze ehlela ku-Elija, wakhwicela ingubo yakhe ebhandeni lelaliselukhalo yacina, wagijima washiya Ahabi yonkhe indlela leya eJezreyeli.” (1 Khos. 18:46) Kuyacaca kutsi ‘emandla aJehova’ abesebenta ku-Elija ngendlela lesimangaliso. IJezreyeli beyikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-30, futsi Elija abesamdzala ngeminyaka. * Asewumbone lomphrofethi ngeliso lengcondvo akhwicela ingubo yakhe ebhandeni lelaliselukhalo kute imilente yakhe ikwati kukhululeka futsi akwati kugijima kulomgwaco lobewugeleta emanti​—abegijima kakhulu kangangekutsi wate wakhandza inkalishi yenkhosi, waphindze wayendlula ngesivinini lesikhulu!

19. (a) Emandla nemdlandla Elija labekunikwe nguJehova kusikhumbuta tiphi tiphrofetho? (b) Yini Elija labeyati kamhlophe njengobe abegijima aya eJezreyeli?

¹⁹ Loko kwaba sibusiso kakhulu ku-Elija! Kutfola lusito lolunjalo kwamenta wativa asanemandla kanye nemdlandla lomkhulu​—mhlawumbe nangetulu kwendlela lake wativa ngayo ngisho asesemusha, futsi loko kufanele kutsi kwamjabulisa kakhulu. Loku kungasenta sikhumbule tiphrofetho letisicinisekisa ngemphilo lenhle nalegcwele umdlandla letawutfolwa ngulabo labetsembekile ePharadisi lelitawuba semhlabeni. (Fundza Isaya 35:6; Luk. 23:43) Njengobe Elija agijima kulomgwaco logcwele emanti, bekati kamhlophe kutsi abenesibusiso seYise Jehova, longuNkulunkulu lokukuphela kwakhe weliciniso!

20. Singakulwela njani kutfola tibusiso taJehova?

²⁰ Jehova unesifiso lesikhulu sekusibusisa. Njengobe tibusiso takhe tiligugu kangaka, asente konkhe lesingakwenta kute sititfole. Njenga-Elija, kufanele silindze, futsi sibunakisise bufakazi lobukhombisa kutsi sekusedvute Jehova atsatse sinyatselo kuletikhatsi lesiphila kuto letiyingoti naletiphutfuma kangaka. Njenga-Elija, sinato tonkhe tizatfu tekwetsembela ngalokuphelele etetsembisweni taJehova, “Nkulunkulu lowetsembekile.”​—Hla. 31:5.